Join Councilman Blackwell on Saturday, November 18th for an informal discussion on the topics, issues, concerns and suggestions you have for District 12 and Southwest Louisville. Stop by Panera Bread, anytime between 10:00 am - noon to speak directly with Councilman Blackwell and have a cup of coffee on him!

WHEN: Saturday, November 18, 10 am - Noon

WHERE: Panera Bread, 6900 Dixie Highway

For more information, contact the District 12 office at 502.574.1112 or liz.mcquillen@louisvilleky.gov

Sue, FEMALE DOG

Meet Sue, a German Shepard mix.  Sue loves to explore and meeting new people at the spry age of 11. She’s very curious but because of hip problems, Sue had trouble getting around and preferred lounging and napping. The MAS veterinary staff did an excellent job getting Sue ready for Adopt a Senior Pet Month. Now that she’s receiving medicine and feeling better, she wants to make up for the time missed exploring the world around her.  The laidback sweetheart loves to be outside.  With our Pay It Forward program, Sue is free to adopt, has all her vaccinations and is microchipped. Sue will require daily medication to ease hip, but she still has a lot of love to give.  Meet Sue today at Animal House Adoption Center (3516 Newburg Road).  Email questions to animalservicesadoption@louisvilleky.gov, or call 473-PETS. 

Precious, FEMALE CAT 

There is a lot of Precious to love. The eight-year-old weighs in at 17lbs! Precious needs a forever home and someone who can help her shed those extra pounds.  It may be hard for her to roll over, but she loves belly rubs! Precious spent her life being a spoiled housecat until her owner passed away.  A home for the holidays would be perfect for her. November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month.  You can adopt Precious for free with our Pay It Forward program. The promotion includes all vaccinations and microchipping. If you’re interested in Precious, you can meet her at Animal House Adoption Center located at 3516 Newburg Rd.  Tues.-Sun. 12-6pm. Email questions to animalservicesadoption@louisvilleky.gov., or call 473-PETS.

Visit the LMAS website here for more information and a full list of all the adorable adoptable animals who need loving homes.

TARC is improving access to thousands of jobs and educational opportunities with a new route through Jefferson Riverport International that includes a stop at the nearby Jefferson Community & Technical College Southwest Campus.

The new route begins operating on Nov. 6 and will more than double service in Riverport as well as provide new service to the JCTC Southwest Campus.

The new route connects with other TARC routes including on Dixie Highway so with transfer options, passengers can travel by TARC to Riverport and the Jefferson Southwest Campus from other parts of the county.

The route’s operation is funded primarily with $2.5 million in federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Funds authorized by state officials and announced earlier this year.  TARC will monitor ridership and work to ensure the service continues after the grant funding expires in three years.

“The new route will help businesses, employees and people looking for work in Riverport,” said Jenny Fox, president of the Riverport Business Association.  “Transportation has been an issue in filling jobs, and the increased TARC service makes Riverport much more accessible.”  Riverport, in southwest Jefferson County, is home to 120 companies and 10,000 jobs.

“Transportation can be a significant barrier to education for students and we are proud to partner with TARC to remove yet another obstacle to achievement,” said Dr. Ty Handy, Jefferson President.  “The stop at the Southwest Campus recognizes our growing presence in that area of our community and will be a great catalyst for academic success.”

Under a partnership with TARC that began in August, Jefferson students, faculty and staff can ride fare-free by showing the bus driver their school-issued photo-ID with a TARC sticker attached.

The new route - Riverport Circulator-Rt. #20 - will operate on weekdays, from 5:20-10:40 am and 1:10-10:30 p.m. circulating west from Dixie Highway and Rockford Lane, and traveling through Riverport, primarily on Cane Run Road, before heading east on Tradeport and Johnsontown roads, ending at the Jefferson Southwest campus.  Return trips north follow the same main thoroughfares with a major stop at Park Place Mall.

Regular fares will apply, with one-way adult fare of $1.75.

Through Riverport, the circulator route travels the same route as TARC’s Rt. #19-Muhammad Ali, which will maintain its current schedule.  With both routes operating in Riverport, buses will arrive at stops in the complex about every 15-40 minutes based on the time of the day.  At the Jefferson Southwest Campus, Rt. #20 buses will stop on weekdays about every 40 minutes from 6:10 - 9:40 a.m. and 2:00 - 9:20 p.m.  

In January, the new route will be added to online trip planning apps including Google Maps and the Transit app.  Until then, passengers can access a printed version of the route map and schedule at www.ridetarc.org/maps-schedule/riverport-circulator. Passengers are encouraged to arrive at stops at least five minutes before the scheduled departure time.

“We’ve heard from the community that they wanted more service to Riverport jobs and service to the Jefferson Southwest campus and we are grateful for the funding and opportunity to now provide that,” Barker said. 

The Riverport route provides connections to TARC routes #18-Preston-Dixie,  #19-Muhammad Ali, #29-Eastern Parkway, #63-Crums Lane and #50X-Dixie Express.  TARC will monitor the new service and consider adjustments to address needs.   During the holiday season, TARC will consider adding limited weekend trips to Riverport based on seasonal employment needs and available resources. 

For a detailed schedule and route map, click here.

Louisville residents who do not plan to mulch leaves or use curbside collection can take collected leaves to three sites beginning Nov. 7. Metro Public Works is offering the free service through Dec. 2. But only loose leaves will be accepted. Containers used to takes leaves to the sites must be disposed of elsewhere by residents.

Leaf dropoff sites are:

• Metro Public Works Yard at 10500 Lower River Road (enter from Bethany Lane). Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Public Works East District Operations Center, 595 Hubbards Lane, Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Public Works Waste Reduction Center, 636 Meriwether Ave., Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Dropoffs will not be available Nov. 23-24 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

The LIHEAP Program that helps low income residents of Jefferson County with their utility bills begins on Nov. 6, 2017.

LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, is a federally funded, income-based program that provides financial help to low-income households in meeting the costs of heating their home. The LIHEAP Subsidy Component is a one-time assistance benefit, which is paid directly to the heating vendor. The LIHEAP Subsidy Component begins Monday, Nov. 6 and will operate through Dec. 15, 2017, or until funding is depleted, whichever comes first.

Residents wishing to apply must schedule an appointment utilizing the new, automated appointment system. The appointment system is currently open and is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Appointments can be scheduled by phone by calling 502-991-8391 or online at louisvilleky.cascheduler.com.

Applicants must be Louisville Metro/Jefferson County residents with a household income at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. For the Subsidy Component of LIHEAP, residents can apply regardless of the status of their utility bills. Applicants must also provide the following documentation.

• Proof of all household income for the preceding month (Food Stamp award letter, Social Security Award letter, pay stubs, etc. or proof of $0 income. Note: Zero Income forms are available at the Office of Resilience and Community Services office at 701 W. Ormsby Ave., Suite 201 or by clicking here.)
• Proof of Social Security number for each member of the household.
• Most current heating bill; or statement from your landlord if heating expenses are included in your rent; or statement from your utility company if you participate in a pre-pay electric program. Please bring the account number and name on the account for main heating fuel sources and electric.

LIHEAP applications will be completed at the time of the appointment at one of the six locations listed below. 

• Northwest Neighborhood Place/Academy at Shawnee, 4018 W Market St., 40212
• South Central Neighborhood Place, 4255 Hazelwood Ave., 40215
• Neighborhood Place Ujima/Duvalle Education Center, 3610 Bohne Ave., 40211
• Neighborhood Place/Bridges of Hope, 1411 Algonquin Pkwy., 40210
• Newburg Community Center/East, 4810 Exeter Ave, 40218
• Southwest Government Center/Dixie Highway location. 7219 Dixie Highway, 40258

Individuals who are unable to apply for this program in person may send a representative on their behalf with a note including the applicant’s signature and phone number. Residents who are homebound and who are unable to send a representative may call 502/780-7937.

Callers who require more information can contact MetroCall 311 by simply dialing 311 or (502) 574-5000, email metro.call@louisvilleky.gov, visit the website’s On Line Customer Service or Live Chat at http://www.louisvilleky.gov/metrocall, tweet @LouMetro311, or download the free Mobile 311 app from the website.  Residents can also call Metro United Way’s 2-1-1 help referral service.

LIHEAP is made possible by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is a pass through grant from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which contracts with Community Action Agencies across the state. Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services (RCS) serves as the administering agency of the Louisville Metro Community Action Agency. For more information about RCS, visit our website: http://www.louisvilleky.gov/government/community-services or call 574-1157 or Community Action Kentucky at (800) 456-3452.

The Southwest Dream Team is looking to hire a part time Executive Director to work with the community on making the South End and Southwest Louisville the best place to live, work, and play.

Position Overview:

This is an opportunity to join a mission-driven, energetic team committed to making a positive impact on individuals, families and the overall Southwest Louisville community. As the South End's leading nonprofit organization committed to raising expectations and energizing the community, the SWDT offers more than just a job. We offer you a career with a mission and the chance to make a lasting difference in your community. The primary responsibility of the Executive Director will be to design, implement and coordinate the community engagement plan. A secondary, but equally important responsibility, will be supporting the ongoing efforts of the Dream Team Board. 

If interested, contact Vince Jarboe at 502.380.3800.

Southwest Community Ministries is a faith-based organization uniting many interdenominational churches, businesses, schools, and individuals to meet the needs of our neighbors in crisis. SWCM works to provide many direct services and support to Southwest residents living in the 40258, 40272 and 40177 zip codes. 

SWCM is seeking a new Executive Director whose position includes informing and advising the Southwest Community Ministries’ board and committees, as well as outside committees, supervising executive staff, providing community leadership, developing programs and seeking funds.

If you are interested and would like more information, please contact mtyates@yahoo.com by November 16th.

Below is a list of projects overseen by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet happening in Southwest Louisville.

US 31W (Dixie Highway) Pavement Marker Installation: Lane closures and delays possible between the P&L railway overpass to Stonegate Manor Drive (mile markers 2.2 to 6.5) due to pavement marker installation. Lane closures are possible in the evenings from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. the following morning.

US 31W (Dixie Highway) Paving: Lane closures and traffic shifts in place between Bethany Lane and Stonestreet Road (mile markers 7.7 to 9.7) due to installation of drainage boxes, curbs and gutters. Additional lane closures are possible weeknights in the northbound lanes from 9:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. and in the southbound lanes from 9:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. Lane closures are also possible on weekends from 9:00 p.m. on Friday until 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and from 9:00 p.m. on Saturday until 10:00 a.m. on Sunday.

For questions or concerns about the paving work on South Dixie, please contact Will Nolan at william.nolan@ky.gov or Sherri Smith (502) 955-5436.

Log on to goky.ky.gov for the latest in statewide traffic and travel information in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.